what will happen if you stop taking effexor suddenly?

Answer 1

you should never stop taking any anti depressant suddenly or without medical supervision.
Some people find efexor incredibly difficult to wean themselves off anyway, you will know if you accidentally miss a dose, the brain zaps as much as anything else can be intolerable.
I am speaking from experience,having been on efexor (400 mg per day) for over three years. I decided eighteen moths ago that i was ready to come off it, I learned the hard way that I wasn't, and then I had to start back on it again at a very much decreased dose which resulted in me suffering acute depression until the dose kicked in again.
it is safer to discuss how to come off efexor with a trained medic. They will work out a programme with you, gradually decreasing the amount over a period of weeks, maybe months. That way they can monitor any adverse side effects and sometimes give you another anti depressant to help you over the bumpy bits as you decrease efexor.

Answer 2

If you suddenly stop taking Effexor then you will experience side effects, such as zapping in your brain, your mood will change back to a depressional state, in higher doses taken your side effects could be alot worse maybe to an unconsious state where you require medical help immediately that's why it states on the packet do not suddenly stop taking this medication.

You become very moody, teary, unsettled, twitching,mood swings comes into effect, but the zapping in the brain even when you try to sleep you can still feel and hear it, it is very frightening and these effects can continue for weeks.

Please do not take the risk in stopping this medication, keep taking medication and go and see your doctor, if you feel alot better and you want to go off Effexor your doctor has to ween you off slowly reducing the dostage and may have to put you on a supplement medication alot weaker until your body returns back to normal it could take a few weeks but to get back to normal it is a gradual process not a fast one.

You will feel fine and proceed in life normally once the Effexor is fully out of your system. All the very best.

Answer 3

When you stop taking any medication you should always consult your doctor first and foremost.

You can simply do a search on google to see what will happen when you stop taking the drug.

From doing research myself and taking classes on this I know that you need to slowly get off of these drugs as in the most extreme cases people have been known to committ suicide. I am sure that you do not want that to happen. Sometimes when taking these drugs we feel so much better that we start to think that we do not need them anymore, however this may not be the case.

Here is a link that is from the Effexor site that will be helpful to you in making your decesion to get off this medication. However please be sure to consult your doctor first.

Answer 4

You should never stop taking an anti-depressant suddenly especially with Effexor. You can experience severe side effects, go into a coma, or even die from doing so.It is better to switch to another anti-depressant. Ask your doctor.

Answer 5

As with any anti-depressant, you should always wean your body off of the medication. If you suddenly stop taking your medication, you could have a bad reaction due to the chemical imbalance that will probably occur. I wouldn't take the chance on just stopping. You need to get off of the medication under a doctor's care in my opinion.

Answer 6

Effexor is in a class of drugs that require you to be weened off. It will cause withdrawal symptoms.

Answer 7

you will probably get what i call swimmy head, others call bouncy brain... it's horrible... even if you taper off, it can last up to 6 months... benydryl can help the symptoms, but really, it's horrible.

Answer 8

You'd be sorry that you did...

Answer 9

Um, don't do it!